PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said Monday he will use $53 million to keep armed police officers and mental health workers at Arizona schools.
He said in an emailed statement that the money is “carryover dollars” from previous years and will be used for fiscal year 2027.
The money will go to the first 560 schools that make a request for officers.
It is a significant increase from when the School Safety Program started, with 113 funded officers.
“School safety is of the utmost priority, and I am committed to providing armed officers to every school that makes a request. Well-trained, armed officers are the first line of defense if a maniac attempts to get on campus to harm people. We are answering all first position requests for assistance in helping to keep their campuses safe for the upcoming school year. Using carry forward dollars, we will be able to grant every first position request in FY27,” Horne said in a statement.
The money will also fund 523 mental health workers at Arizona schools.
Horne said the State Board of Education approved all the positions on May 18.
To keep the positions past fiscal year 2027, state lawmakers will have to approve more money, Horne said.
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